multicultural

If You Like…Romances Set in South Asia or featuring South Asian characters

If You Like…Romances Set in South Asia or featuring South Asian characters

Dear Author guest post by Kim T. A few years ago, I watched a Hindi language, historical epic film called Jodhaa Akbar, starring Bollywood superstars Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.  As a librarian with a graduate degree in European history, I was intrigued by the 16th century historical detail in the film.  And I [...]

REVIEW: Gold Mountain by Sharon Cullars

REVIEW: Gold Mountain by Sharon Cullars

Dear Ms. Cullars, I can’t recall whose blog I was reading when this book was mentioned but I’m glad I found out about it. A Negro heroine and a Chinese hero in 1865? Sign me up. “In 1865, the hope for gold has spurred many to seek their fortunes in California, the place the Chinese [...]

Friday Film Review: Imitation of Life (1959)

Friday Film Review: Imitation of Life (1959)

Imitation of Life (1959) Genre: Melodrama Grade: B Our reviewer John is the one who urged me to see this film. A weepy with a wardrobe for the principal star that is to die for. Though I’m not a fan of melodrama, especially the grand 1950s ones, the clothes aspect drew me in, shallow creature [...]

Friday Film Review: Blazing Saddles

Friday Film Review: Blazing Saddles

Blazing Saddles (1974) Genre: Comedy/Spoof Grade: A- “He rode a blazing saddle, he wore a shining star. His job to offer battle to bad men near and far. He conquered fear and he conquered hate. He turned dark night into day. He made his blazing saddle a torch to light the way.” It’s been a [...]

REVIEW: The Players’ Club series by Cathy Yardley

REVIEW: The Players’ Club series by Cathy Yardley

This post reviews all three Players’ Club books, two of which are available now and one which is set to be released digitally on February 1, 2012. I will say that if you read one, you’ll have to read them all. Players’ Club: Scott The Players’ Club is an urban legend of men jetting around [...]

REVIEW: Colorado Dawn by Kaki Warner

REVIEW: Colorado Dawn by Kaki Warner

Dear Ms. Warner, I am a big fan of Western romances and your books have been praised by many of my trusted reviewers. So when I was offered the opportunity to review your latest, the middle book in the Runaway Brides trilogy, I was happy to accept. Although I haven’t read the first book, I [...]

REVIEW: Busted in Bollywood by Nicola Marsh

REVIEW: Busted in Bollywood by Nicola Marsh

Dear Ms. Marsh, I am always on the lookout for India-set and India-related historical and contemporary romances, so when I saw your new contemporary was forthcoming from Entangled Publishing, I was intrigued. You’ve written a number of well-received category romances at Harlequin, so although Entangled is a new press, you are a proven author. But [...]

REVIEW: Priceless by Lena Matthews

REVIEW: Priceless by Lena Matthews

All she wants for Christmas is him. All he wants is everything…for her. Urban Fairytales, Book 3 As Christmas bears down on Eric Athers’s empty wallet, one question plagues him: What to get the love of his life when he has less than nothing? It doesn’t help that his wife, Nia, who works extra shifts [...]

What Sunita is reading, for the week ending September 11

What Sunita is reading, for the week ending September 11

I read a bunch of novellas and short-ish stories this week, as well as returning to a novel I’d laid aside for a while. Mostly m/m with one m/f, and a number of new-to-me authors.   The Seventh Veil (The Etsey Series, #1), by Heidi Cullinan I began this back in the spring and had [...]

Friday Film Review: Something New

Friday Film Review: Something New

Something New (2006) Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance Grade: C+ I really wanted to like this movie more than I ultimately did. Sanaa Lathan and Alfre Woodard are favorite actors and the plot promised more than the usual rom-com. But though the acting is good and it did make me think as it kept me entertained, ultimately it [...]

REVIEW: Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson

REVIEW: Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Dear Mrs. Simonson, This may be your first published book but wow, just wow. I am in love with it and want to go around telling all my friends, my coworkers, total strangers on the street, almost everyone about it. I haven’t read too many A grade books this year but the wait for another [...]

Monday Midday Links:  How the King James Bible Has Shaped Our Language

Monday Midday Links: How the King James Bible Has Shaped Our Language

Kwana emailed me to let us know that Macmillan publishing has launched a new Facebook and twitter account called The Loft. Kwana is the moderator and it is a place to talk about contemporary women's fiction, romance and chicklit.   It’s interesting that publishers like Macmillan through Tor.com and now, The Loft, are attempting to create [...]

REVIEW: Taming of Mei Lin by Jeannie Lin

REVIEW: Taming of Mei Lin by Jeannie Lin

Dear Ms. Lin: As I understand this, The Taming of Mei Lin is a prequel of sorts to Jeannie Lin’s Butterfly Swords.   Mei Lin is an orphaned girl who lives with her uncle and aunt.   The uncle and aunt play little role in the story and while not kind they are not cruel either.   Mei [...]

REVIEW: Red Hot Renegade by Kelly Hunter

REVIEW: Red Hot Renegade by Kelly Hunter

Dear Ms. Hunter: Reader Statch recommended your books a few weeks ago.   Fortunately for me two things existed.   First, the four books preceding Red Hot Renegade were already digitized and easy for me to purchase and download. (FN1).    Second, I didn’t have long to wait until the fifth and final book in the series [...]

REVIEW: Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass

REVIEW: Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass

Dear Ms. Glass, Fictional diversity is a favorite topic here at Dear Author, and a personal focus of mine. I’m very resistant to the idea that readers don’t want to see more diverse representation in their books because I’m a reader and I very much want to see that. So I was very happy to [...]